Oklahoma vs. Texas Prediction, Game Preview

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Oklahoma (4-0) vs. Texas (1-4) is always big whether it’s the Red River Rivalry, the Red River Shootout, the Red River Showdown, or whatever you want to call it, but this year is a bit different. The Sooners are trying to press forward looking to make a run to the playoff, while the Longhorns could be talking more and more about a coaching change – or at least a hot seat – with an ugly loss. Check out the Oklahoma vs. Texas prediction and game preview.

Oklahoma vs. Texas Game Preview

Broadcast

Date: Saturday, Oct. 10
Game Time: 12:00 pm
Venue: Cotton Bowl, Dallas, TX
Network: ABC

Why You Need To Care

What happens if Texas get obliterated? This is a very young team that makes a lot of very young mistakes, but there’s rebuilding, and there’s losing in embarrassing fashion. Yes, Texas came within two bad special teams plays of possibly beating Cal and Oklahoma State, and Notre Dame and TCU are two of the elite teams this season – and played like it against the Longhorns – but to lose to the Irish and Horned Frogs by a combined score of 88-10 isn’t going to sit well. Making things worse, a loss to OU would make Texas 1-5 for the first time since 1956 when it finished 1-9. There’s talent, and there’s upside, but this is going to be a process. Will Strong be around to see it through? Texas can lose, but it can’t get destroyed.

Oklahoma got by its two big tests beating Tennessee in two overtimes and coming up strong last week against a good West Virginia with an impressive 20-point win. The offense is humming, the defense is doing enough, and the potential is there for a huge run with Kansas State, Texas Tech, Kansas and Iowa State up next. The Sooners have time to keep building until a killer finishing kick, and it can’t get caught looking ahead. The Longhorns are desperate, and OU has to be ready.

Why Oklahoma Will Win

So what’s the biggest overall problem with Texas right now? The defense doesn’t have an identity and can’t do any one thing right. Want to run on the front seven? Okay, it’s not too much of a problem. Want to throw? Go ahead and push the ball deep and enjoy. The Texas secondary has yet to allow fewer than 234 yards in any game, and the run defense only allowed under 214 rushing yards once. There’s not enough of a pass rush, and quarterbacks have had all the time they’ve needed to operate. Give Baker Mayfield time to find his second and third option, and to let the routes develop, and it’s uh-oh time.

Why Texas Will Win

One of the team’s only positives has been turnover margin. Texas has only lost the ball five times on the season and has needed to win the mistake battle to stay alive. It’s no coincidences that the one win came when being a +4 against Rice, and one of the other close calls came when going +2 against Oklahoma State. Oklahoma tightened things up against West Virginia with five takeaways finishing a +3 as the only time all year it finished on the plus side. The Sooners have given away two turnovers in each of the first four games.

Player Who Matters

Jerrod Heard might look like the future of Texas football, but last year it was Tyrone Swoopes who turned out to be the story in the 31-26 loss finishing with 334 yards and two scores and running for 50 yards and a touchdown. Heard might have to be at least that good statistically for the Longhorns to keep up with Mayfield and the OU offense, but Swoopes is seeing time early here and there. Mayfield might not be consistent, but he’s bombing away with three touchdown passes in every game but the win over Tulsa – he threw four. In 2013 for Texas Tech, he completed 24-of-44 passes for 237 yards and an interception in the 41-16 loss to the Longhorns. He has a lot more talent around him now.

What’s Going To Happen?

Could this be 63-21 bad like it was when Oklahoma came up with a blasting in 2012? Both teams over the years have found ways to rise up and surprise in the rivalry, and Texas will play better than expected, but the defense just doesn’t have enough to hold its own against the surging Oklahoma offense. This will be close for about three quarters, and then reality will set in.